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Route Rating Level 1 to Level 4

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Premiere Inns
  • $4,398 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+$1,570 for sgl. occ.)

Reserve early for the best available price. More Info

6 DAYS, 5 NIGHTS
ROLLOVER DATES BELOW FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
2008 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
ROLLOVER DATES ABOVE FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
TRIP NOTES

All meals included except 2 lunches and 1 dinner.

Cancellation Policy

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Meet / Depart

Cork, Ireland

Special Interest

Culture & History, Fine Wine & Cuisine, Spa

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or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
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Berkeley, CA 94710

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from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time

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Ireland Walking Vacations

Ireland Walking

The Marvels of County Kerry

“When it’s gray and drizzly, the Irish say it’s a ‘soft’ day. And after a while this softness works its way into your soul,” claimed one veteran traveler to Ireland. “Ahh, but when the sun does emerge, the entire Earth smiles.” We think you’ll smile, rain or shine, during this Backroads ramble, where friend and guide Michael Murphy introduces you to the land and lore he’s spent his life getting to know. And where Francis and John Brennan graciously welcome you to the prestigious Park Hotel Kenmare and its outstanding restaurant. Add a cozy woolen sweater, a wee nip of whiskey, and we’re all as happy as leprechauns.

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Days 1-2 Caragh Lake

Meet in Cork From the Carrig House, embark on a hike along Caragh Lake with views of the spectacular glacier-carved Glencar Valley The top of appropriately named Windy Gap offers stunning views of Dingle Bay Stroll along the dramatic coastal cliffs to Rossbeigh or enjoy a local pint.

Day 3 Killarney

Hike Tomies Woods and visit O’Sullivan’s Cascade Enjoy a traditional pub lunch in historic Killarney Stroll to 15th-century Ross Castle on the shore of Lower Lake Delight in the lost art of storytelling as a local seanachie weaves enchanting tales.

Days 4-6 Kenmare

Join local guide Michael Murphy for a visit to Killarney National Park, Muckross Estate and Torc Waterfall Wander through charming Kenmare, where you’ll find shops, galleries, cafés and restaurants, as well as row upon row of houses with cheerfully painted facades and ornate plasterwork Pamper yourself with a spa treatment at our hotel Hike over Mount Knockagarrane on the rugged Beara Peninsula, with awe-inspiring views of the pristine lakes and glacier-carved mountains in Inchiquin Valley Taste local whiskeys with expert John Moriarty Follow quiet paths to one of the largest stone circles in County Kerry.

Route Rating What's this? Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Each offers options for more or less activity, so you can decide exactly how much you want to do day by day.

Lodging What's this? Our lodgings are divided into three different categories.

Premiere Inns:These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.

Casual Inns:These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the areawith such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.

Deluxe Camping:We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.

Detailed Itinerary

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Trip praise

Our vacation was much more than we expected. Everything—leaders, hotels, food, itinerary, pubs—was just perfect. Our local guide was superb—his stories and information made his days with us memorable. Pub lunch was great; the beer tasting confirmed that I do enjoy Guinness. And the pub visit after dinner one evening just put a great finish to our first Ireland visit. When John (a local) broke out in song, the whole pub went silent as we were just taken with the voice and story of the song. Perfect. And the picnic lunch in the pasture beneath the waterfalls fit in with the rest of the detailed perfections of the week.
Ed Burger - Dallas TX

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For more than 29 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Ireland tour experts. For walking tours and hiking tours in Europe At Large, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Europe At Large walking tours and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Europe At Large biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Europe At Large multisport tours click here.

Ireland Walking

LUXURY & CHARM : Premiere Inns

Carrig House

Caragh Lake (2 nights): Enjoy the gracious service of Mary and Frank Slattery at this 1850s gem, set on the shore of Caragh Lake and restored to its Victorian splendor.

Killarney Park Hotel

Killarney (1 night): Promising and delivering “warmth beyond the smile,” this handsome hotel in the heart of Killarney offers elegant cuisine, a swimming pool, a spacious spa and a full-time pianist.

Park Hotel Kenmare

Kenmare (2 nights): A Small Luxury Hotel of the World with French cuisine, a deluxe spa facility and antiques-filled elegance, chosen as one of Andrew Harper’s favorite hideaway resorts for the past 25 years.

Ireland Walking Ireland Walking

Park Hotel Kenmare

Ireland Walking

Route Rating

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Levels 1 to 3 2 Route Options Available
  • 3.7, 8 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 2 to 4 2 Route Options Available
  • 6.2, 10.3 miles
  • 1000 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Levels 1 to 2 2 Route Options Available
  • 2.7, 5.7 miles
  • 0 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Levels 1 to 5 4 Route Options Available
  • 3, 8.5, 11.6, 15.2 miles
  • 0 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 5
  • Levels 2 to 3 2 Route Options Available
  • 5.8, 8.9 miles
  • 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 6
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • 3.5 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
We hike on boggy trails, pavement and dirt roads that can be wet and rocky at times. The terrain is gently to moderately hilly.
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Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Average Distance
    Biking Walking
& Hiking
1 2-3
hours		 10-20
miles		 2-5
miles
2 2-4
hours		 21-30
miles		 5-7
miles
3 3-5
hours		 31-40
miles		 7-9
miles
4 4-6
hours		 41-55
miles		 9-11
miles
5 5-7+
hours		 56-75+
miles		 11-13+
miles